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Complete List of Past Continuous Forms

Past Continuous Uses

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past

Use the past continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The
interruption is usually a shorter action in the simple past. Remember this can be a real interruption
or just an interruption in time.

Examples:

 I was watching TV when she called.
 When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
 While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
 What were you doing when the earthquake started?
 I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
 You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
 While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
 Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
 While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
 A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
B: I was snowboarding.

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption

In USE 1, described above, the past continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the simple
past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.

Examples:

 Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
 At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
 Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.